A Perfect Proposal cover reveal

Craig had an urge to call out “hey honey I’m home“ as he walked into the kitchen and tossed his keys into the bowl where he always threw his keys.

Sounds from the living room indicated that Lysia was watching TV. Returning to noise was nice. It made this house not so empty and lonely.

He paused when he entered the living room. Lysia had been busy, she still was.

Colorful paper chains, garlands of popcorn and cranberries covered the tree. Small origami ornaments hung from the branches.

“It’s beautiful. How did you do all of this?” Craig stepped up to his tree, admiring all the work that Lysia had put into decorating it. He turned to look at her. Her hair was a mess, half in and half out of a ponytail. She had flecks of small cut paper on her cheek. She bit paper clips that she had twisted out of shape, and flags of tape hung off the edge of her hand. Magazine clippings surrounded her. A stapler lay on its side. The tape dispenser was almost empty. Paper clips were scattered everywhere. Popcorn spilled out of a microwave bag and onto the floor. A hotel-room emergency sewing kit lay open on top of an empty plastic bag that used to contain fresh cranberries.

She focused on the construction in front of her. Craig could make out aluminum foil, coffee filters, and cardboard. The rest was sheer magic. Lysia constructed an angel from recycling and found objects.

“There.” She said triumphantly as she placed the last piece of tape along the back between wings she had formed from, where those leaves?

The smile she gave Craig made him stupid. How had he managed to pass over the offered third date reward? Oh right, he wasn’t going to pressure her, and last night he had fallen asleep like a dork.

She bounced up and presented him with the angel. “You’re home just in time to place her on top of the tree.”

Home. It sounded warm and inviting coming from her lips. This was just a big house. She was making it a home by being here. By decorating his tree, by bringing her presence into his life.

He took the angel from her and pulled her to him for an embrace. She tipped her face to him, and he took her lips. “This is beautiful, thank you.” He said after ending the kiss.

He held her to him as he reached up and crowned the tree with her art. “It’s perfect.”